Most iconic San Francisco photos

By Amy Graff

on November 23, 2018 4:03 AM

Gold Rush, 1851

Back in 1848, when glittering yellow flecks were discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, Calif., hopeful prospectors flooded the Golden State in search of their fortunes.
Nearby San Francisco became a hub for miners — a place to spend their riches or dwindling pennies. A town that was only 200 residents in 1846 grew to 36,000 people by 1852 and 150,000 by 1857. This photo is a view of San Francisco harbor; half-plate daguerreotype, 1851. It's thought to be taken by the daguerrian photographer Sterling C. McIntyre. less

Gold Rush, 1851

Back in 1848, when glittering yellow flecks were discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, Calif., hopeful prospectors flooded the Golden State in search of their fortunes. Nearby San Francisco ... more

City services and infrastructure, including sanitation, couldn't keep up with the fast-paced growth of San Francisco and an epidemic of cholera hit in 1855. The city's jump in population and riches also led to an increase in crime, and in 1856 the Committee of Vigilance was formed to catch crooks and clean up the city. This photo captures a view down Stockton Street, May 1855: View north from Sacramento Street, with Alctraz and Angel Islands visible in bay. less

The end of the Gold Rush, 1855

City services and infrastructure, including sanitation, couldn't keep up with the fast-paced growth of San Francisco and an epidemic of cholera hit in 1855. The city's jump in ... more

Photo: G.R. Fardon / UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

The end of the Gold Rush, 1855
City services and...photo-15645481.187436 - |ucfirst

Cliff House, 1903

It was opened in 1896 by Adolph Sutro, the mayor of SF. It survived the 1906 earthquake, but then burned to the ground in 1907. This view is taken from the Parapet at Sutro Heights, Adolph Sutro's estate above the Cliff House.

Water mains ruptured, and the fires ignited, burning out of control for days and devouring approximately 80 percent of the city, including almost all of the downtown core. Vallejo near Grant after the great earthquake less

Earthquake knocks the city, 1906

Water mains ruptured, and the fires ignited, burning out of control for days and devouring approximately 80 percent of the city, including almost all of the downtown core. ... more

The crowd welcoming the returning troops on Market Street after World War I, 1918

"San Francisco held one of the greatest celebrations in its history on Nov. 11, 1918.
Shouting and singing, an army of men and women flowed up and down Market Street, waving flags and banging on drums. Tens of thousands massed in public places to attend religious services and hear dignitaries give patriotic speeches. Exuberant drivers careened through the streets, honking their horns and dragging tin cans. The bash didn’t run out of steam until well into the next night," the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Lindbergh visited San Francisco on Sept. 16, 1927. "It was just months after his landmark transatlantic flight, and years before the kidnapping and death of his infant son.
The event was breathlessly promoted for weeks, and Lindbergh news filled the first four pages of The Chronicle," the SF Chronicle reports.

"The airship soared high above the city on Aug. 25, 1929, and with it soared the imaginations of millions. The trip from Tokyo to Los Angeles took nearly 80 hours all told and was part of a round-the-world flight funded mainly by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, then the owner of the San Francisco Examiner and more than two dozen other newspapers," the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The "Big Dipper" roller coaster was the most popular ride at Playland at the Beach — then called Whitney's at the Beach — but by 1955, the city laid it to rest when a new San Francisco building code forced it to shut down. Pictured is the "Big Dipper" in this June 1948 file photo. less

Big Dipper roller coaster, Playland at the Beach, 1948

The "Big Dipper" roller coaster was the most popular ride at Playland at the Beach — then called Whitney's at the Beach — but by 1955, the city laid it ... more

In 1896, the Sutro Baths opened complete with salt water swimming pools, slides, swings, diving boards and more. But in 1966, the nearly 100-year-old structure ultimately closed and later went up in flames that same year. less

Sutro Baths, January, 1952

In 1896, the Sutro Baths opened complete with salt water swimming pools, slides, swings, diving boards and more. But in 1966, the nearly 100-year-old structure ultimately closed ... more

SF got its very own major league baseball team when the New York Giants moved to the city. A large crowd gathered on Montgomery and Market streets during the San Francisco Giants welcome parade, April 14, 1958 less

New York Giants move to San Francisco, 1958

SF got its very own major league baseball team when the New York Giants moved to the city. A large crowd gathered on Montgomery and Market streets during the San ... more

Photo: Art Frisch / The Chronicle

New York Giants move to San Francisco, 1958
SF got its very...photo-10660201.187436 - |ucfirst

Allen Ginsberg thumbs through a Jack Kerouac work, 1959

The Beat Generation, a movement started by writers that critiqued and explored American culture, had its start in San Francisco in 1955. North Beach became the center of the Beat Generation and cafes and bookstores like City Lights Books, at 261 Columbus Ave, were frequented. Photo shows Ginsberg at an S.F. bookstore. less

Allen Ginsberg thumbs through a Jack Kerouac work, 1959

The Beat Generation, a movement started by writers that critiqued and explored American culture, had its start in San Francisco in 1955. North Beach ... more

Game 1 action from the 1962 tiebreaker series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, October 1, 1962. Willie Mays hit two home runs for the Giants, propelling them to a 8-0 victory. The Giants and Dodgers have had their share of memorable series through the decades, but 54 years ago, fans were treated to perhaps the most memorable of them all.

On November 6, 1964, the original Palace built for the 1915 Pan-Pacific Expo was demolished, with only the steel structure of the exhibit hall left standing. The buildings were reconstructed in permanent, light-weight, poured-in-place concrete. less

San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts demolition and reconstruction, 1964

On November 6, 1964, the original Palace built for the 1915 Pan-Pacific Expo was demolished, with only the steel structure of the exhibit ... more

Crowds of young men and women gather -- and draw police attention -- during a summer solstice celebration at Golden Gate Park on June 21, 1967. This date marked the beginning of the city's Summer of Love.

"A 19-month occupation that was sometimes tense, sometimes festive. Heavily covered by the press, the action would lead to improved government policies for American Indians and a new activism among Indian people that continues to this day. The occupation also helped keep Alcatraz from being turned into a commercial development featuring shops, restaurants and other establishments," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Photo taken on November 10,1969. less

Indian takeover of Alcatraz Island, 1969

"A 19-month occupation that was sometimes tense, sometimes festive. Heavily covered by the press, the action would lead to improved government policies for American ... more

Sept. 19, 1969: San Francisco mayor Joe Alioto, center, holds a pair of scissors at the grand opening of the BART tunnel in 1969. Mayor John Reading (without a helmet) and BART president Arnold Anderson (far right) watch. less

The opening of the BART tunnel, 1969

Sept. 19, 1969: San Francisco mayor Joe Alioto, center, holds a pair of scissors at the grand opening of the BART tunnel in 1969. Mayor John Reading (without a helmet) and ... more

One of the most famous groups in the San Francisco sound, the Grateful Dead pose at Haight and Ashbury Streets in May 1974.

The Grateful Dead, Haight-Ashbury, 1974

One of the most famous groups in the San Francisco sound, the Grateful Dead pose at Haight and Ashbury Streets in May 1974.

Photo: Herb Greene

The Grateful Dead, Haight-Ashbury, 1974
One of the most...photo-16545419.187436 - |ucfirst

Snowfall in San Francisco, 1976

It snowed one to two inches on San Francisco streets in Feb. 5, 1976, dusting the Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Snowfall in San Francisco, 1976

It snowed one to two inches on San Francisco streets in Feb. 5, 1976, dusting the Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Photo: Art Frisch, The Chronicle

Snowfall in San Francisco, 1976
It snowed one to two...photo-8898608.187436 - |ucfirst

San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk at the Gay Freedom Day Parade, 1978

Milk travels with an army of supporters behind him on June 25, 1978, in one of the Chronicle's most famous photos. Milk died later that year, but the parade continued in his honor -- it's now the largest annual parade in San Francisco.

At a dinner at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel, Queen Elizabeth's joke about the rainy California weather catches President Ronald Reagan by Surprise. He laughed so hard he almost fell over backwards, which surprised the Queen. Photo by San Francisco Chronicle photographer Steve Ringman (1983)/Courtesy Pictures of the Year International. less

Deotis McMather sleeps in his bed in the San Francisco General Hospital AIDS ward 5B in 1983. After being diagnosed with AIDS, he returned to his San Francisco apartment and found all of his belongings were thrown out onto the street. less

AIDS hits San Francisco, 1980s

Deotis McMather sleeps in his bed in the San Francisco General Hospital AIDS ward 5B in 1983. After being diagnosed with AIDS, he returned to his San Francisco apartment and ... more

The game was played on January 20, 1985, at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, the first Super Bowl played in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers defeated the Dolphins by the score of 38–16 to win their second Super Bowl. less

Joe Montana and Dwight Clark at Super Bowl, 1985

The game was played on January 20, 1985, at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, the first Super Bowl played in the ... more

Bono pulled out a spray paint can and turned on the Vaillaincourt fountain, a controversial art piece titled "Quebec libre!" that was installed in Justin Herman Plaza in 1971. He wrote "Rock 'n Roll, Stop the Traffic." less

U2 lead singer Bono spray paints Vaillaincourt Fountain, 1987

Bono pulled out a spray paint can and turned on the Vaillaincourt fountain, a controversial art piece titled "Quebec libre!" that was installed in ... more

Humphrey the Whale is a humpback whale which twice deviated from his Mexico to Alaska migration by entering San Francisco Bay. Humphrey attracted wide media attention when entering the bay in both 1985 and 1990. less

Humphrey the whale returns to SF Bay, 1990

Humphrey the Whale is a humpback whale which twice deviated from his Mexico to Alaska migration by entering San Francisco Bay. Humphrey attracted wide media attention ... more

In this Jan. 27, 2010 file photo, Apple CEO Steve Jobs shows off the new iPad during an Apple event in San Francisco. Apple has become the world�s first company to be valued at $1 trillion, the financial fruit of tasteful technology that has redefined society since two mavericks named Steve started the company 42 years ago. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

Same-sex couple Del Martin (L) and Phyllis Lyon (R) are married by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom (C) in a private ceremony at San Francisco City Hall June 16, 2008 in San Francisco, California. Martin and Lyon were the first couples to be married in San Francisco as same-sex marriages become legal in California. less

Same-sex marriage becomes legal in California, 2008

Same-sex couple Del Martin (L) and Phyllis Lyon (R) are married by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom (C) in a private ceremony at San Francisco City Hall June ... more

Travis Ishikawa's home run propels the SF Giants to a third World Series in five years, 2014

Giants Travis Ishikawa rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 6 to 3, sending the Giants to the World Series during Game 5 of the NLCS at AT&T Park on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014 in San Francisco, Calif. less

Travis Ishikawa's home run propels the SF Giants to a third World Series in five years, 2014

Giants Travis Ishikawa rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 6 to 3, ... more

Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Special To The Chronicle

Travis Ishikawa's home run propels the SF Giants to a third...photo-7010818.187436 - |ucfirst

Golden State Warriors win first NBA Final in 40 years, 2015

Stephan Curry smiles at the crowd while his daughter Riley Curry looks down from the bus during the parade celebrating the Golden State Warriors first NBA Final win in 40 years in Oakland, California, on Friday, June 19, 2015. less

Golden State Warriors win first NBA Final in 40 years, 2015

Stephan Curry smiles at the crowd while his daughter Riley Curry looks down from the bus during the parade celebrating the Golden State Warriors ... more

Upon its completion, it became the tallest building in the San Francisco skyline. In this photo, figures dance across the crown of Salesforce Tower on Thursday, May 17, 2018, in San Francisco, as part of a light installation by artist Jim Campbell. less

Salesforce Tower opens, 2018

Upon its completion, it became the tallest building in the San Francisco skyline. In this photo, figures dance across the crown of Salesforce Tower on Thursday, May 17, 2018, in ... more

The air quality in San Francisco reached the purple on the Air Quality Index (AQI) as the skyline is shrouded in smoke from the Camp Fire near Chico on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 in San Francisco, Calif. less

San Francisco air-quality reaches most unhealthy levels ever, 2018

The air quality in San Francisco reached the purple on the Air Quality Index (AQI) as the skyline is shrouded in smoke from the Camp Fire near ... more

Back in 1848, when glittering yellow flecks were discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, Calif., hopeful prospectors flooded the Golden State in search of their fortunes.
Nearby San Francisco became a hub for miners — a place to spend their riches or dwindling pennies. A town that was only 200 residents in 1846 grew to 36,000 people by 1852 and 150,000 by 1857. This photo is a view of San Francisco harbor; half-plate daguerreotype, 1851. It's thought to be taken by the daguerrian photographer Sterling C. McIntyre. less

Gold Rush, 1851

Back in 1848, when glittering yellow flecks were discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, Calif., hopeful prospectors flooded the Golden State in search of their fortunes. Nearby San Francisco ... more